Luggage

ABSTRACT

Multi-part luggage includes parts ( 10, 20 ) that can be joined together to form a closable single piece of luggage. The parts can be closed in their own right. They are produced as hard-shell pieces of luggage and joined together to form hard-shell luggage. The closable individual parts can be closed, for example, with roller-shutter mechanisms or by a grille.

The invention relates to hard-shell luggage. Luggage with a hard outer-shell serves for the improved protection of the contents of the luggage, compared to the case with “soft” luggage. Various compartments and receptacles can be provided in luggage for the tidy stowage, but time and time again, better compartmentalisation is desired for tidiness and for the protection of some articles.

Thus for example shoes are placed in a shoe bag, tip to heel and in this manner stowed in the suitcase between other things. It is very annoying when expensive shoes become slightly damaged in this manner. It is not uncommon to thereby have shoes separately in a shoe bag. However, this so not really the solution one indeed desires.

The invention provides remedy to this and can be designed for example as a fashionable shoe trunk. It is a dividable hard-shell case, for example for two or four pairs of shoes which can be carried along on a journey in a secure manner without getting damaged. This hard-shell case thus consists of two individually closable cases which can be joined together in a mutually protective manner into one case. Mutually protected are for example the closure parts such as small doors, grilles, roller-shutters of the individual cases or case parts. Thus each case part per se is well closable for a unit to be protected, here for shoes, but is not universally protected against greater impacts and other influences. Not until joining together both parts into a unit is this effected. The inventive idea can be extended to further parts of this type. The invention is discussed in detail by way of subsequently sited figures illustrating the invention by way of a two-part example.

FIG. 1 shows hard-shell luggage from mutually protective parts.

FIG. 2 shows the object according to FIG. 1 taken a little apart, but only to the extent of showing the principle.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show one of the two individual parts in the open and closed condition.

FIG. 4 shows a few design part regions of the hard-shell luggage to be discussed.

As is to be seen with regard to the luggage ready for travel according to FIG. 1, the partitioning exists diagonally through the cuboid or parallelepiped object. Already from the outside, one can see that this division can for example stow shoes with high heels. They are upright in one part 10 and are upside down in the other part 20. What cannot be seen here is the inner closure of the two parts. Each part has a grip or handle, and the part 10 has a carrier strap 13 (hidden), and the part 20 one with the number 23. The closures 15 for the part 10, and 25 for the part 20, serve for fastening both parts to one another, or better said, on one another. The closures 15 and 25.1 snap into one another and thus hold the parts in a fixed manner. As is shown in the following figures, the luggage of this example consists of a frame or framework, and hard-shells 12 for the part 10, and 22 for the part 20, which are fastened thereon.

FIG. 2 shows the object being discussed, in a partly dismantled manner and separated from one another. The parts are represented without the applied hard-shells, so that one can look into the inside. A rigid, scaffold-like frame provides the piece of luggage and its parts with shape and strength. For the part 10 it is the frame 16 and for the part 20 it is the frame 26. One recognises positive-fit elements 17.1 and 17.2 in the diagonal strut, for the lateral retention of the parts to one another, specifically an elongate groove 17.1 and an equally elongate projection 17.2. These engage into their counter-piece in the part 20, where in a mirror-imaged manner, here hidden, positive-fit elements 27.1 and 27.2 are arranged in the frame 27. Here too, one sees that both parts as an inner closure each have a roller-shutter 12.2 and 21.2. Both roller-shutters are brought into an opened position, thus pushed up, so one can get to the interior with the contents.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show the part 10, which is closed to the inner part by the roller-shutter 11.1 in FIG. 3A and is open to the inner part in FIG. 3B. Both FIGS. 3A and 3B are represented with an applied hard-shell 12. FIG. 3B shows very well, as to how shoes with averagely high to high heels can be placed therein. The shoes are held in an insert, for example for the heels and shoe tips, which is not shown here, so that they do not fall around. When the shoes are stowed therein, one can close the roller-shutter and the shoes are protected therein. If one wishes to travel with these, then one places the parts 10 and 20 onto one another and locks them to one another. This shoe trunk can be comfortably carried at the handle 13 or 23. The inner equipping can be designed infinitely, for example for articles other than shoes.

This example of the invention designed for a shoe box is not only pleasingly elegant, but the box is also practical for the protection of delicate and expensive shoes, and can be simply handled without the danger of ruining one's fingernails. Deep down, women will be grateful to the world of male inventors.

FIG. 4 finally shows the frame 16 and 26 of the two parts 10 and 20 belonging to one another, as well as pushed out to the rear, the hard-shell 12 of the part 10. The hard-shells can be of plastic, of aluminium or another suitable impact-proof material. It is clear that this is a simple and good embodiment of this example, and different variants of the frame and of the hard-shells are possible. As shown, roller-shutters serve as closure parts, but also other forms of closure parts for opening and closing are possible. If one does not wish to have roller-shutters, one can also clip a closure grille onto the frame, so that the contents are visible after taking the piece of luggage apart, for example for a comprehensive set of cosmetic articles. 

1. Multi-part luggage, comprising: parts (10, 20) that can be joined together into a closable single piece of luggage.
 2. The multi-part luggage according to claim 1, wherein the parts are separately closable.
 3. The multi-part luggage according to claim 1, wherein the parts are manufactured as hard-shell luggage pieces and joined together to form hard-shell luggage.
 4. The multi-part luggage according to claim 2, including closure parts that close the parts.
 5. The multi-part luggage according to claim 2, including a roller-shutter that closes the parts.
 6. The multi-part luggage according to claim 2, including a grille that closes the parts.
 7. The multi-part luggage according to claim 1, including hard-shell elements (2) that are manufactured of plastic.
 8. The multi-part luggage according to claim 1, including hard-shell elements (2) that are manufactured of aluminium.
 9. The multi-part luggage according to claim 2, wherein the parts are manufactured as hard-shell luggage pieces and joined together to form hard-shell luggage.
 10. The multi-part luggage according to claim 3, including closure parts that close the parts.
 11. The multi-part luggage according to claim 3, including a roller-shutter that closes the parts.
 12. The multi-part luggage according to claim 3, including a grille that closes the parts. 